The notes from the Tuesday, Jan 12  meeting of the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission (GAEC) are below.

*Minutes were approved from the Dec 16, 2009 GAEC meeting.

*Golden Girl Fight Promotions applied for a boxing promoter’s license and for a match permit. Both permits were denied as the paperwork was not complete due to no bond. Please note that Golden Girl Promotions is also coming off of a one-year suspension and did not attend the meeting on time.

*TKO Boxing applied for a boxing promoter’s license and for a match permit. Both permits were denied as the paperwork was not complete due to no bond. If the bond is turned into Andy Foster, secretary for the GAEC, Foster will verbally approve the license and match permit prior to the February GAEC meeting.

*Southeastern Fighting Championship was approved for its Saturday, March 13 match permit in Moultrie, GA.

*Full Throttle Entertainment / Undisputed Productions was approved for its Saturday, Feb 6 match permit at Wild Bill’s in Duluth.

*Joseph Benjamin, a pro boxer with a record of 1-17-2, came before the GAEC to be licensed as a pro boxer in the state of Georgia. Benjamin explained how in his 20 pro fights he’s never been KO’d, never been injured and has fought extremely tough competition. Benjamin has been an opponent his whole life as in his 20 pro fights he has fought 15 fighters with one loss or less. The combined record of his 20 opponents is a staggering 94 wins, 18 losses and 7 draws!After Andy Foster read a support letter from World Champion trainer and boxer Yahya McClain in support of Benjamin’s skills as a boxer, the GAEC voted to give Benjamin a license, but for Foster to monitor his next opponent and to watch him spar prior to the fight date.

*Rick Thompson, board member, proposed HIV requirements for all amateur MMA fighters and all pro MMA fighters and boxers in Georgia in addition to the already required Hepatitis B and C tests. Foster stated that he’s called around already and the tests can be done for only about $10 additional cost. The board voted to approve HIV testing and this will go into effect July 1.

*Andy Foster explained Rule 85-1-.07 to the board which reads, “When assigned by the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission or the Commission Secretary, the fee for a chief official who will perform the duties of the commission representative shall be $300.00.”